UAlbany’s Page will leave the program

ALBANY — Chris Page, a redshirt freshman for the University at Albany basketball team, will not be back next season.

Coach Will Brown said that the 6-foot-5, 190-pound Page will transfer from UAlbany to a Division II or NAIA school so that he can play right away.

“He is looking for an opportunity to play,” Brown said. “He wants to get some consistent minutes.”

That didn’t happen for Page, who is from Plainfield, Ind., at Albany. He appeared in just nine games for the Danes and played a total of 37 minutes. Fourteen of those minutes came against Navy, Page’s best game. He scored six points and also had two steals and two assists in the 71-61 road win on Dec. 28.

Brown met with all his players last week.

“I always forecast what I see in the next year, and kids want to know what their roles will be,” Brown said. “His was most likely not going to change.”

Brown said he is going to help Page get to a place where he can play more. He said he has reached out to (unnamed) Division II and NAIA schools in the Midwest and Brown also said he has talked to the College of Saint Rose.

Brown said he understands Page’s desire to want to play.

“Four years go by so quick,” he said. “It’s tough to practice every single day and then not play. The games are the rewards. I can understand where he is coming from.”

Brown already has given out three scholarships for next season. The Danes will lose four seniors — Mike Black, Jacob Iati, Blake Metcalf and Jayson Guerrier — in addition to Page.

How about everyone taking a time out and focus on something else? The UA cheerleaders went down to Florida this past week and did an outstanding job finishing fourth only a few points from winning the whole thing. It’s about time the people who attend these games as well as the players show a little respect and thanks for those who spend so much time on the sidelines supporting their team.Did any of the sports columnists even bother to mention this in passing?